ORIGIN

1931 Ford Montana Mail Carrier

This 1931 Ford 68B convertible is said to be one of two modified in 1941 for deep snow mail delivery duty in Montana. It has modified fenders, tractor tires, and a truck differential. If they had built it from a pick-up, this would have pre-dated Bigfoot by 36 years. Find it here at Desert Classics in Butte, Montana for $58k.

Jack H- “chick magnet” If perhaps you meant “chicken magnet” I will undoubtedly agree. Outside of Montana .this would be as laughable as the plethora of El Caminos mounted upon 4WD Chevy Blazer frames found in the backwoods of often muddy southern states. It needs to stay somewhere it can be enjoyed within it’s context by adventuresome travelers.

Wow, that’s really a neat survivor but @58k?? I think he’s moved one too many rubber tree plants. I like the car, very cool. Who’d a thought? The mail must get through and I suppose by horse was still a dangerous deal in the dead of winter.

Not much room for mail. Seems like there would have better choices for the task. Although the banger motor is a tough little unit, that’s a lot of tire to turn. Contrary to many of the comments, I wouldn’t want this at any price. I mean, what are you gonna do with it in real life ? You can’t drive it. Even if you restored it, imagine trying to navigate modern roads and traffic. Maybe my experience driving my buddy’s 58 Jeep last night has soured me, but that was one miserable buckboard with a grinding 3 speed, hopeful handling and please god make it stop brakes. No thanks.

Okay, this is incredibly super cool and I love it. But it’s not only a redneck backyard job, it’s an 81-year old redneck backyard job! Are you insane with the asking price? Judging by the rest of the flowerpots masquerading as cars you have for sale, I’m guessing you are, Desert Classics. Does anyone actually buy your stuff at asking price. Jim Morrison was right about the desert…it gives one strange ideas of grandeur…..

It’s an oxymoron to say Escalades are not only found in the ghetto. As a vehicle does, it rolls anywhere you want it to roll. What I was trying to say it’s the choice vehicle for drug dealer and pimps, no ? Besides, it’s only your wild imagination that makes you think that I said that.

If this were mine I’d drive this all along the border line with a pair of heavy-duty Zircon-encrusted tweezers in my hand. Every other wrangler would say I was mighty grand. By myself I wouldn’t have no boss, but I’d be raisin’ my lonely Dental Floss.

If Jeremiah Johnson had a drivers license, he might drive something like this. Actually this would also be an excellent car to run the old Bog at Watkins Glen, dodging beer cans, mud, and Molotov cocktails.

I totally want to make one of these myself. It actually reminds me of a toy I had as a kid. It was an electric riding car modelled on a Stutz Bearcat; but because of the necessity to get it to work, the ratio of wheels to the body were a bit like this car.

Only two? Once ,n moment of weakness i ventured onto the HAMB and found pages of dozens of these things with pictures of them. They were a common device in parts of the USA where roads were still muddy horse tracks. like the model T, the model A would go almost anywhere in the time before the jeep. Putting a lower ratio back end with tractor tyres would allow a vehicle to to any where. What this one doesn’t have are the Giant fenders most of the others had.

Marooned, Agree that there are some great comments on this one, but I can’t imagine anything coming close to the various thoughts expressed back in April on the “project” Aston Martin. There was enough material on that one to keep Jay Leno going for a week.

I am betting that it was not for snow, but for mud… In a heavily rutted road, this thing would be high enough to not bottom out. That would make sense, given the efficiency of the road crews of the time. It would also explain the excessively large fenders.

If it runs and drives so well why did they have to yank it out with a chain to take the pictures? Price is extremely optimistic as is the story. Fun to look at but I would guess a nightmare to drive and the maintenance of this vehicles looks to be suspect at best.

I seriously doubt the validity of this whole thing. A convertible to deliver mail…..and wire wheels for deep snow. Having driven Model A’s and MG’s with wire wheels in the snow, it is dangerous and terrible. The spokes fill up with snow and they will throw the balance out so bad you have to pull over and clean it out or ot will vibrate you off the road. Makes for good copy though….

Local legend has it that an already moody Ted Kaczynski stopped in at Desert Classics sometime in the spring of 1977, interested in purchasing an ex-U.S. Postal Service jeep similar to the one featured on their website today. He apparently made a lowball offer, was soundly rebuked by the sales staff and laughed off the lot. Something snapped in Ted that day, and he disappeared into the Montana woods. The rest is, unfortunately, history.

Yo! Dat ride is FRESH! My homie in Miami said he was da first to go Donk when he went 22’s on his Coopdeville… DANG I’m gonna win Benjamin or two off his bragging self when I bring dis one up to the boulevard!

That is plain awesome. I’m glad someone kept this around, and I’m glad BaT put it up for everyone to see. I like to believe I know a lot about cars, but then something like this comes along to keep me humble, and a bit shocked that it exists.

If Willy Wonka was a Montana mailman, he’d have had one a these. Proto-rat rod. GraveDigger’s grandpappy. Seriously, a cabriolet!? Brings up evil ideas for a lunar rover Rabbit droptop that could drive over stuck Hummers en route to your backcountry postbox.

Back in the early 80’s we had a neighbor who’s friends (an older couple) used one of these as a daily driver. Mostly origninal – certainly not “restored”. They are much prettier in stock form and probably more fun to use.

Although I like it, I suspect the photos dont fully convey the horror of the beast. It looks like a real lash up job. When exactly was the first episode of the “A team”. The brackets holding the rear mudguards only apart from not being symmetrical, weren’t painted after they were welded on to the body. It may be that the rest of it wasn’t particularly well executed either, only intended to run for the one season. It wont be getting my 58k, considering how much care and attention went into fitting the mudguards as the advert says, its a pig in knickers.

They drink a lot in Montana. This is a really cool old Ford, and for sure it takes a couple acres to turn it around but theres plenty of space in in big sky country. Front spoke wheels look pretty scary, and the wood spokes are pretty dry looking. Check out the other stuff these guys have — lots of yard art.

Just when I thought I had seen everything on BAT, you guys go ahead and post this. It’s awesome and epic, and an amazing representation of just how creative Americans can be when necessity pushes us to be. I have to wonder though just how much steering angle you could get out of it with the tires being so close to the body. Plus, I wonder if it still has a Ford flathead four under the hood (the V8 didn’t come along until 1932).